Points of Light Expresses Deep Concern Over Administration Proposal to Eliminate National Service Programs

Potential Impact on Volunteering and Service Would Extend to Communities Across the United States

ATLANTA (Feb. 12, 2018) – Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, is deeply concerned about the negative impact of President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2019 budget on communities across the country. The plan provides a small amount of funding to support the shutdown of the Corporation for National and Community Service, setting the agency and all national service programs up for elimination the following year.

CNCS, established in 1993, plays a critical role in strengthening America’s nonprofit sector and solving our nation’s toughest problems through service. Since its founding, CNCS has engaged millions of Americans in service through its core programs – Senior Corps and AmeriCorps – and through national volunteer recruitment efforts through Serve.gov. The elimination of CNCS would devastate community-based organizations that respond to natural disasters, serve children and the elderly, support military families and generally serve as the backbone of community efforts to address pressing challenges.

Points of Light is a long-time CNCS partner, collaborating on the Billion + Change campaign to engage companies in donating pro bono and skills-based service; mobilizing millions of Americans through annual days of service; and scaling several AmeriCorps programs including Service Works, a groundbreaking, national program that uses community engagement and volunteer service as a strategy to help underserved youth develop the skills they need to reach their college and career goals.

Each year, AmeriCorps engages more than 80,000 Americans in service, at more than 21,000 locations across the country. More than 1 million individuals have served in the program since 1994. Senior Corps engages Americans age 55 and over to tap their skills, talents and experience to give back to communities. In fiscal year 2017, more than 243,000 Senior Corps volunteers gave 74.6 million hours, serving more than 1.2 million people.

Points of Light is a member of Voices for National Service’s diverse coalition of national, state and local service programs, state service commissions and individual champions, who work to ensure Americans of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to serve and volunteer in their community. For more information on how the administration’s 2019 budget will and end eight decades of bipartisan presidential support for national service program visit Voices for National Service.

Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 20 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.